The Heart Of God

 

Over the years I've heard a number of people try to disassociate the God of the Old Testament from the God of the New.  In the pre-Christ prophets he is envisioned as a God of massive anger, rigid laws & unattainable judgments, while the God of the Christ era is simply more loving, forgiving & 'gracious'.  Of course, if this dichotomy of personalities were indeed the case humanity would be condemned to a terrible state of affairs, held captive by a God of inconsistency if not petulant whimsy.  I have done my best on this site to consolidate the biblical texts so that this conceptual division would be replaced by a broader, more sythesized understanding of the fact that we serve a God that changes not.  To that end, I am providing a list here of Old Testament scriptures that clearly illustrate that a God of the tenderest mercies has always sought the highest good for His people.  Keep in mind that Israel was God's first born.  These scriptures, while addressed exclusively to Israel at the time they were spoken, reveals a father's heart that is broad enough to embrace all who seek him. 

 

O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!  Deuteronomy 5:29

 

And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the Lord: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel. Judges 10:16

 

In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.  Isaiah 63:9

 

My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace , because thou hast heard , O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.  Jeremiah 4:19

 

I have forsaken mine house, I have left mine heritage; I have given the dearly beloved of my soul into the hand of her enemies.  Jeremiah 12:7

 

3 The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

4 Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.  Jeremiah 31:3-4

 

They shall come with weeping, and with supplications will I lead them: I will cause them to walk by the rivers of waters in a straight way, wherein they shall not stumble: for I am a father to Israel, and Ephraim is my firstborn.  Jeremiah 31:9

 

Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child?  for since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still, therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD.

Jeremiah 31:20

 

Yea, I will rejoice over them to do them good, & I will plant them in this land assuredly with my whole heart & with my whole soul.  Jeremiah 32:41

 

32 But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies.

33 For he doth not afflict willingly nor grieve the children of men.  Lamentations 3:32-33

 

I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.

Hosea 14:4